2023 Jamaica-Indonesia residency programme for emerging artists

The programme provides opportunities for young Jamaican artists to expand horizons through a cultural visit to Indonesia.

Four residencies will be offered in 2023, one per calendar quarter. Residents will be selected competitively from emerging talent in the fields of dance, music, the visual arts, new media, and the literary arts. It is envisaged that life-long cultural relationships with south east Asia will be established.

How To Apply?

Selection of awardees will be based on applicants’ artistic performance to date, creative work plan for the period of the study visit, expected creative output by end of the residency, and proposed contribution to Jamaica’s world of arts on return home. The age of applicants, as of January 1, 2023, should be minimum 22 years and not more than 29 years.

Applicants should explicitly address the following questions in their proposals:

  • What are your plans for personal development in your art form?
  • What do you consider your main creative achievement to date?
  • How do you envisage that a residency in Bali will contribute to your development?
  • What key objectives will drive your effort in Bali?
  • What outcome would define success if you are awarded a residency?
  • How might you engage with the Balinese community during your residency?
  • What contribution could you make, based on your Bali experience, to the artistic community on your return to Jamaica?

The selection committee to be chaired by Michael Holgate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, will review applications and make offers. A gender balance will be sought among 2023 awardees.

Creating your own Bali programme

It’s a self-directed programme. Each awardee will design his or her own programme and make artistic contacts in Bali. These contacts are expected to support the resident to develop, extend and experiment their practice. And create new works during the residency.

Arrangements will be made for the emerging writer who is selected to participate in the Ubud International Literary Festival in October 2023. There will also be festival opportunities in Ubud in other creative areas. Your host in Bali may provide preliminary support to awardees in making contacts in their respective fields.

Commitment by awardees

All artists participating in the programme will commit to:

  • community outreach in Bali as part of the residency (i.e. performance, workshop, talk, mentorship, collaborative project, or presenting a work in progress)
  • photo and video documentation of their residency (and a short video testimonial of their time spent in residence) which will be used by Esirom for the residency website

What’s Included

  • a return airfare from one of Jamaica’s airports to Denpasar, Indonesia
  • up to two months quality accommodation in Ubud, the cultural centre of the island of Bali
  • awardees will additionally be provided, as necessary, with a return airfare to Singapore for visa renewal purposes at mid-point of a two-month stay, allowing him or her to explore Singaporean arts for a day or two.

Awardee’s contribution to costs

The awardee is expected to cover living expenses in Bali, other than accommodation. This includes meals, laundry, local transport, travel/medical insurance, venue entrance fees, etc. Awardees will be required to send proof of insurance coverage prior to departure from Jamaica. For a two month stay, the organisers expect awardees to raise around US$1500 through fundraising approaches and/or identification of a Jamaican individual or corporate sponsor.

2023 applications deadline

Interested artists should apply by July 31, 2023

Our Stories

Watch stories from Jamaicans who have visited Indonesia as a part of our Residency Programme. Are you excited yet?

Tiana Anglin

Art

Carlyle Grant

Marketing

Conkarah

Recording Artist

Joanna Francis

Painter & Student of Art Education

Ishaka Shango

Travelling Vlogger

Michael Holgate

Creative Director, The Ashe Performing Arts Company